Serena Williams has lost in a shock upset at the Australian Open final to Angelique Kerber - who was playing in her first ever Grand Slam final.
The German, 28, broke the defending champion to win the third set of the tense match 6-4 - the first time Williams has ever been defeated in the deciding set of a Grand Slam final.
Kerber rose to the occasion to become the first German to win a Grand Slam singles title this century and she immediately dropped to the floor in tears after winning the match-point.
Her win means her 'hero' Steffi Graf's record of 22 titles remains intact - and despite narrowly missing out on matching this, Williams went round to Kerber's side of the net to give her a hug.
In an emotional post-match interview, Kerber said the fact she is now world number two and a Grand Slam champion sounds 'really crazy and unbelievable'.
'This has been the best two weeks of my life and my career. I am here and you really are the best fans in the world. My dream came true tonight,' she said.
'You know, my whole life I was working really hard and now I am here and I can say I am a Grand Slam champion so it sounds really crazy and unbelievable.
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| In everything she still congratulated her |
'Thank you to my family, my home, my friends, they are, like, at home and watching me, I think, I am on TV right now.
'And sometimes I think I am really not easy but I have the best family, the best team in the world and, yes, I really enjoy this moment right now and at least I will thank you to all of you.'
The 28-year-old is the first German to win a major singles title since Steffi Graf at the 1999 French Open.
Kerber took an early lead against the world number one at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne by claiming the first set 6-4 - and the American did not look happy about it.
Williams was seen screaming after unleashing her shots and used this aggression to claim the second set 6-3 on Saturday night's clash.
But Kerber soon gained her momentum back and took a startling 5-2 lead in the third set.
Williams clawed back two games, but the seventh seed broke her serve to win the Championship.
Speaking after the match, Williams congratulated her opponent and said she 'deserved' the win.
'It was a great match and I'm glad you had a chance to witness great tennis. Thank you and congratulations, you did so well and you deserved it.
'You played the best in the tournament so let me be the first to congratulate you and I am so happy for you and I really hope you enjoy this moment.
'You truly deserve this so congratulations.'
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